Page 1161 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

55 – THE INFERTILE QUEEN 1153

Prognosis ● Stress of the show circuit. Obtain a history of the
frequency of showing, the amount of travel and the
Prognosis for producing a litter is poor, as the cystic
cat’s reaction to showing.
endometrium interferes with implantation.
● Poor health of the queen. A history and physical
examination should detect this problem.
Prevention ● Disorders of sexual development. These are detected
by karyotyping for chromosomal abnormalities and
Pregnancy protects the queen against pathologic
exploratory laparotomy for physical defects of the
changes in the uterus that interfere with fertility.
reproductive tract.
History and physical examination will help to rank the
INADEQUATE PHOTOPERIOD*
possible causes into order of likelihood for the particu-
lar case.
Classical signs

● Failure to exhibit estrus behavior. Treatment
Ensure access to adequate environmental light in
Pathogenesis the breeding season.

Cats are seasonal breeders, commencing estrus cycles ● Maintain cats with a minimum of 12 hours of arti-
with increasing day length. ficial light per day equivalent to a 100 watt bulb in
a 4 × 4 meter room.
A day length (photoperiod) of 14–16 hours of bright
light per day is necessary for normal estrus cycling. In the non-breeding season altering the hours of light
can be used to induce estrus.
● If the hours of exposure to light can be controlled,
Clinical signs then house the queen for 2 months at short days of
A queen of apparently good health, normal body weight 9 h of light followed by 1 month of 14 h days of
and not “stressed” that fails to commence estrus light. There is a stimulant effect on estrus within
cycles in the breeding season. 10 days.

Prognosis
Diagnosis
Prognosis is excellent for normal reproductive function
History and clinical examination to ensure a normal once an appropriate photoperiod is arranged.
healthy cat.
Question the owner on housing arrangements and Prevention
access to light.
House cats with good access to natural lighting, either
via windows or housed in outside catteries.
Differential diagnosis ● If lighting in the cattery can be controlled, then the
largest number of litters produced per year is when
Other causes of anestrus.
a regular 12 h light/dark cycle is maintained.
● Poor nutrition. These cats have poor body condition
and are below the minimum weight of 2.3–2.5 kg
for commencing estrus cycles. FELINE LEUKEMIA VIRUS*
● Overcrowding. There is a history of a number of
queens living together in small quarters and poor cat- Classical signs
tery conditions.
● Fever, malaise, generalized
– Each adult cat should have a minimum of 2.5
lymphadenopathy.
square feet of floor space and no more than 12
adult cats should be housed in the same pen. continued